A/N: I changed it so Sachiko knew that Haruhi was a girl.

Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC.

The Shadow Queen

Kaede's [Private] Enemies:

Rei

Third Person

"Er... um... eh...," Sachiko stammered, cornered by the host club, who was looking at her intently for an answer. Kaede had gone early again, for a tennis tournament this time. As soon as she left, they bombarded her with questions of what happened in the States.

To her relief, Hoshi and Haruo rushed in. "Kaede told us to tell you that she might kill you when she's back," Hoshi said. "I don't know why though..."

They all jumped. How did she know?! "Er... Hoshi, Haruo... can you tell them about what happened in the States?" Sachiko asked, running away like she was going to die. She exited the room with her hair flying behind her. The host club turned to the two cousins with red eyes.

"Sooo...," the host club said.

"Sooo...," the cousins said, sweatdropping and backing away.

In the end, the two third years in middle school broke, after Honey pulled off his puppy dog eyes.

"We don't know much, but we know a bit," Haruo said. "Sachiko confided in us, anyways."

"It goes like this..." Hoshi started.

What Hoshi Knows

Back in America, we had an older friend named Kiyoshi in the track and field club. He was a handsome guy; very kind and outgoing. He was like Kaede, and was athletic and musical. He quickly fit in with our group, and Kaede admired him. He was an ideal guy; while Kaede controlled the shadows, he would shine in the light. Yet, the more Kaede hung out with him, the more she shined.

She didn't show that she loved the guy; she didn't blush, didn't act shy, didn't act embarrassed... but that might be just because she's Kaede. She was very fond of him and considered him a close friend.

There was the time with Rei; she had broken up with Justin, a mutual break up, and hadn't talked to Kaede in weeks. She found another guy pretty quickly, and claimed to have loved him. Sachiko still talked to her, despite the fact that she'd always badmouth Kaede. But, in Kaede's mind, Rei was pitiful and desperate, so she didn't stop her. I think she decided that she couldn't retaliate against such a poor person. That, and she didn't want to believe that Rei changed so badly.

Eventually, after 1 year of dating, Rei's new boyfriend broke up with her.

The guy confessed to Kaede the next day.

She, of course, rejected him. But for some reason, with this, Rei was consumed by jealousy. She spread rumors about Kaede being a slut, and said that she'd hook up with anyone, be it guy or girl. Kaede started getting pissed. She was strong enough to fight off the rumors, but in doing so, she revealed an angry, unsightly side of herself. To her, school wasn't interesting anymore. It was just a battleground of petty commoners. She ignored everyone except Kiyoshi and us. Her patience snapped at the stupid intentions of Rei.

But little did she know, Rei was just getting started.

Even though she and Justin broke up, they were still good friends, as Justin had displayed 'loyalty' to her after the Kaede incident. Justin had disclosed to her that he was wealthy, as he supported Rei's intentions against Kaede, who had humiliated him. They, however, didn't know of Kaede's own wealthy background. On the other hand, Kiyoshi's father worked for Justin's family's company. Seeking for revenge, Rei convinced Justin to lay off Kiyoshi's father, who had a job working for the company. Without the steady income, the family moved away. With that, the kind boy who had helped Kaede through middle school was gone without a word.

Kaede lashed out at that point, and beat up Justin on school grounds, while Rei stood on the side, watching. The whole time, she was crying. She hospitalized the rich boy, and in turn, got expelled. Before she left, she told us that she was filthy rich and that this incident wouldn't put a dent into her future. She said to forget about her and she'd forget about everything that happened.

But we didn't, and so we're here now.


Third person

The hosts' eyes widened. So, that's the story behind Kaede. Wild, but, knowing Kaede, believable.

The sympathetic ones-the twins, Tamaki, and Honey-stared at the two they had cornered for a moment. Then, tears started swelling up in their eyes. "Wh-what a s-sad s-story!" they sobbed.

They were interrupted by the opening of the door. In came Sachiko and Kaede. "I didn't know Sachiko was that open with you guys about the whole thing," Kaede said to Hoshi and Haruo, glaring a one-eyed glare to Sachiko. The girl shrunk in fear. Then, rather bravely, the sympathetic ones rushed to hug her.

"Waa... We're sorry for your life, Kaede!" they cried.

"Shut your mouths," Kaede said coldly, pushing the guys away. "I'm good with my life, thank you."

"Do you like us, Kae-chan?" Honey tugged at her sleeve. Mori stood beside him, and pat Kaede on the head.

"We'd never betray you!" the twins and Tamaki chimed.

"We like you, Kaede," Haruhi smiled. Kaede felt a blush coming on. I hate how refreshingly innocent these people are.

Kaede hid her face partially with her hand. She wasn't used to people being as straightforward as her. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her head.

"Even Shirai can be weak at the charms of the host club," Kyoya smirked. Kaede looked up, finding her face close to Kyoya's. He was hiding her blushing face.

"...shut up."

The moment was interrupted by the slamming of the door.

"Get off of me, you jerks!" a girl shrieked. The guards dropped her in front of Kaede.

"We found her looking in to your touching moment, miss," the guards reported.

Kaede stepped away from Kyoya to look at the intruder.

"Hi... Kaede." The girl talked in English. "Long time no see."

"What are you doing here?"

"Justin told me where you were." She nodded to the shadows surrounded Kaede. "I saw some body guards walking around, and I found myself here."

"Having fun after messing up my middle school life?"

"If you expect me to bring Kiyoshi back, I won't," Rei said childishly.

"I know where he is, Rei; I'm not stupid," Kaede replied harshly. "I just was taking out the last of my anger on you..." Rei looked at her like she was crazy.

"Wow..."

The host club watched in amazement, Sachiko and her cousins too, as the two people who supposedly hated the other made up.

"...That's gotta be the quickest make up there has ever been...," everyone else in the room said, sweatdropping.

"Truth is, I stopped caring about it a long time ago...," Kaede said. "Ever since I figured out Kiyoshi's location. I've been helping him and his family since then. Plus, middle school girls grow up, I just wanted to wait until that happened to this salty b $#." As she talked, Rei hugged the girl tightly.

"I'm sorry, Kaede!" she cried. Kaede pat the other girl's head, and the others fell down.

"But, but, but..." Hikaru started.

"That would mean..." Kaoru continued.

"That wasn't the reason you changed so much from the past?!"

"No, it was the reason. But my anger only lasts for so long," Kaede yawned. "I just wanted a genuine apology."

"But how abo-"

"-case closed, no more questions."

Although not exactly knowing it, Kaede had acted coldly and violently to the host club as a way to warm up to them. She hadn't been sure whether or not she'd find herself comfortable in a rich environment, and assumed a manipulative personality to try and test them. Kaede smiled to herself. They really cared enough to a stupid extent, she thought. What an idiot bunch.

After all that, Kyoya was the only one who wasn't satisfied with the explanation of Kaede's life in the United States. Rei went back to the airport, for she was catching the next flight back to America. Her purpose in Japan was to apologize profusely with the Kiyoshi incident, saying that she couldn't get his family back to their original location. After Justin's hospitalization and Kaede's expulsion, Kaede had left Kiyoshi's number on Rei's doorstep as a last ditch chance to right her wrongs. Although, by the time she called Kiyoshi, Kaede had disappeared.

Consequently, Rei became online friends with Kiyoshi, who's kind and bright presence had changed Rei's sociopathic ways.

What a story book ending.

Kaede and Kyoya were the last ones to go home, Kaede playing her beautiful piano music and Kyoya finishing up the host club's profit calculations for the day. The two almost completely ignored each other, yet they were fully aware that another was in the room.

Kaede stopped her pieces abruptly, standing and walking up to Kyoya. His eyes reverted to the girl. "I somehow get the feeling that you need to ask me something," Kaede said.

Kyoya snapped his book shut. "Yes, I do." He paused for a second. "Even if you were mad at Rei, why did you move here? The academics don't meet your level, either."

The girl chuckled. "Of course you would know that, Kyoya. I'll tell you the truth, then." She took a sharp intake of breath. "I'm here to do marriage meetings for the sake of the Shirai company."

"Sachiko-san, thank you for walking me home," Haruhi said, smiling to the petite girl. They figured out that Haruhi's apartment complex was on the way to Sachiko's, so they found themselves walking home together. Much to Sachiko's despair, due to the many things Kaede does, she rarely walks with them.

"N-no problem," Sachiko stammered, blushing. Haruhi did not notice this. Sachiko tried conversation. "Kaede tells me that you're a scholarship student?"

"Oh yes. Kaede almost had me lose it after getting a higher grade in the exams than me. But, she was taken out of the rankings since she was on a totally different level than the average smart person. She convinced them not to take away my scholarship."

"She's still somewhat nice, huh... and a smooth talker."

"Yeah."


A/N: And... bad chapter right here. I can't carry on drama, dang it! Aargh...

Mutemuia, that small bit at the end was to answer your question.

Any close observers out there: Even though she can control the effects of her eye, she covers it since if she accidentally stares into somebody else's eyes when she's mad, bad things could happen. Kaede gets angry over the slightest of things, but doesn't show it...

I don't really know why I decided to give her a random super power, but what's done is done. (Update 7/22/18)

Review, review, review! I might make the drama with the "marrying this guy" problem if I get FEEDBACK.

Thanks for reading! TBC~

-AmbiWriter-